E R I d EWAZEN

PAUL POLIT
CONDUCTOR
ERIC EWAZEN
Eric Ewazen was born in 1954 in Cleveland,
Ohio. He received a B.M. at the Eastman School
of Music and his M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from
The Juilliard School. He has received a number
of composition awards and prizes and his works
have been commissioned and performed by
many soloists, chamber ensembles and orches-
tras in the U.S. and overseas. His works are
recorded on EM1 Classics, Summit Records,
&Note Records, CRS Records, New World,
Clique Track, Helicon, Hyperion, Cala, and
Albany. Two of his solo CDs are available on
Well-Tempered Productions.
During recent seasons, a number of Mr.
Ewazen's orchestral and chamber works have
been premiered around the world. The
American Brass Quintet with the Orquesta
Sinfonica Carlos Chavez performed
Shadowcatcher, his brass quintet concerto for
the first time in Mexico City. She-e Wu and the
Orchestra Moments Musicales performed the
Concertofor Marimba and String Orchestra in
Taipei, Taiwan. The Tenerife Symphony pre-
miered the Balladefor Bass Trombone, Harp
and String Orchestra in the Canary Islands.
Linda Strommen and the American Sinfonietta
performed Ewazen's Oboe Concerto for the first
time in Bellingham, Washington. Hornist Gail
Williams and Larry Combs (principal clarinetist
of the Chicago Symphony) were the first to per-
form The Art of the Cig along with the Chicago
Chamber Musicians. The Charleston (South
Carolina) Symphony premiered his Concertofor
Tenor Trombone and Orchestra and the West
Virginia Symphony gave the U.S. premiere of
Shadowcatcherwith the American Brass
Quintet. Mr. Ewazen's recent and upcoming
commissions include a Double Concertofor
Trumpet, Trombone and Orchestra,written for
the principal players of the Tucson Symphony, a
Bassoon Concerto for Florida State University,
The Palace of Nine Pe$ections for Oklahoma
University, a Symphonyfor Strings for the
InternationalSejong Soloists and a piano trio for
the Ahn Trio. He has also received commissions
to compose symphonic wind ensemble works
for the Bi-Centennial of West Point and for the
USAF Heritage of America Band at Langley AFB,
VA.
Mr. Ewazen was a featured composer at the
European Percussive Arts Society Convention in
Paris, France where the Orchestre de la Garde
Rkpublicaine performed his Marimba Concerto
under the direction of Francois Boulanger.
Other notable performances have included
Doug Yeo's presentation of his Concertofor
Bass Trombone and Orchestra with the New
England Conservatory Honors Orchestra, and
the Paris Conservatoire's performance of his
Palace of Nine Perfections In addition, concerts
featuring all-Ewazen programs were given by
Charles Vernon at DePaul University and at the
Curtis Institute, Lawrence University, Kennesaw
State University, the University of Arizona,
Brevard College and Western Michigan. In May
1996 he was Composer-in-Residenceat the
International Trombone Association Convention
and in June 2001 he was the Composer-in-
Residence at the 33rd International Horn Society
Convention. He was also a guest composer with
Musiques en Eurorkgion in Northern France in
October 1999.
Eric Ewazen has been vice-president of the
League-ISCM, Composer-in-Residencewith the
St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, lecturer for the
New York Philharmonic's Musical Encounters
Series, and is currently a faculty member of The
Juilliard School.
With its versatility, impressive range and amazing
colors, the bass mmbone is an instrument capable of
such a variety of emotional expresion. I am grateful
to some ofthefinest bass trombonistsof our time--
John Rojak, Stefan Sanders, David Taylorand
Charles Vernon, who have helped bring this record-
ing to life. Their inspiration, artishy and dedication
tobrtbering their repertoire has resulted in the cre-
ation of t h e m concertpieces of Bass Hits
Concertino for Bass Trombone and
Trombone Choir
Having been a friend of David Taylor's since
1980 when he recorded my piece, Dagon 11 for
9 tracks of bass trombone, I have long known of
his legendary playing in so many different musi-
cal styles-from classical to jazz to popular to
experimental. With the Concertino,I wanted to
write a work for him which captures many of his
musical personalities. The piece was premiered
by David Taylor with the University of Illinois
Trombone Choir, conducted by Elliott Chasanov
at the 1996 International Trombone Association
festival at the University of Illinois. The one
movement work alternates soulful chorales with
harddriving rhythmic passages. The trombone
choir provides a buoyant intricate accompani-
ment for jazz influenced gestures and melodies
in the soloist's line. At the culmination of the
piece a virtuostic cadenza leads to a final rousing
coda
Ballade for Bass Trombone, Harp and
String Orchestra
Balladefor Bass Tmmbone, H a p and String
Orchestra began life as a work for clarinet. I
made the arrangementsfor Charles Vernon, to
whom the piece is dedicated in 1996. Charlie
premiered the work at the 1996 ITA convention
at the University of Illinois. I well knew of his
reputation as one of the genuinely great orches-
tral and solo bass trombonists of our time. At
that convention I had the pleasure of accompa-
nying him on a program which included such
diverse pieces as Mahler's Kindertotenliederand
the John Williams' Concerto. The Ballade show-
cases Charlie's wonderful ability to float long,
lyric lines and to dazzle the listener with his
energetic vitality and golden tone. In an ABABA
form, these two polar extremes are highlighted.
The piece seems to rise out of a mist. . .sing,
dance and play.. . and quietly, peacefully disap-
pear again into the mist.
Concerto for Bass Trombone and
Orchestra
Stefan Sanders, whom I am proud to count as
one of my music theory students at Juilliard,
won the low brass competition held at the
school in 1997, resulting in his premiere perfor-
mance of my Concertofor B a s Tmmbone (or
Tuba) and Orchestra. Stefan's commanding
sonority and his heartfelt expression resulted in
a premiere performance both riveting and soul-
ful. This is a large 3 movement concerto-mod-
eled after the concertos of the classical period.
The first movement's introduction and coda is a
lilting song framing an extremely playful sonata
allegro form. Much of the movement is contra-
puntal, allowing the bass trombone to combine
and recombine with various soloists in the
orchestra. The second movement is a genuine
aria, a melancholy song without words. The final
movement is frenetic and agitated, sometimes
angry, sometimes heroic and even joyful.. .but
always filled with momentum and drive.
Rhapsody for Bass Trombone and String
Orchestra
John Rojak has been a friend for almost 25
years, since we were students together at
Juilliard. As the extraordinary bass trombonist of
the American Brass Quintet, he has performed
on some of the most celebrated brass chamber
music recordings of the 2oth, now 21Stcen-
turies. Equally adept as a terrific soloist,John
approached me about writing a piece for him in
1996.This resulted in the Rhapsodyfor Bass
Trombone and String Orchestra which he pre-
miered at the 1997 ITA convention in Boulder,
CO. All three movements of this work are in
minor keys. Although pastorale, uplifting ges-
tures and moments of sunlight appear, the net
effect of this piece remains haunting, mysterious
and dramatic. In the first movement, mournful,
expressive bass trombone lines are supported by
high shimmering string chords. The second
movement is a melancholy waltz. The third
movement contains thundering, agitated themes
and gestures.
Capriccio for Bass Trombone and
Trombone Choir
The finale of Bass Hits is a Capricciofor Bass
Trombone and Trombone Choir. It was written
for David Taylor as a companion piece to his
Concertino which opens Bass Hits. The rapid,
spinning compound meter calls to mind a wild,
ecstatic tarantella. The bass trombone dances
over the punctuated, aggressive trombone choir
chords, creating a feeling of boundless energy
and exhilaration.
Glen Cortese, conductor
Glen Cortese is music director of the New
York Chamber Sinfonia, and Principal Conductor
at the Manhattan School of Music, where he is
the director of orchestral studies. He has
appeared as guest conductor both in the United
States and abroad. He has worked with the New
York City Opera and the Symphonies of New
Jersey, North Carolina, Bangor, Meridian,
Queens, New Amsterdam and Austin. In addi-
tion, he has conducted the Mexico City
Philharmonic, the New Orleans Philharmonic,
the International Chamber Orchestra, the
Belarus State Philharmonic, Noorhollands
Philharmonisch, Orquesta Sinfonica Carlos
Chavez, and the Altenburg Landeskappele
Orchestra. Mr. Cortese covered as Assistant
Conductor to the New York Philharmonic and is
music director of the East-West International
Symphony Orchestra in Altenburg, Germany. He
has collaborated with major soloists such as
Ransom Wilson, Sharon Isbin, Ruth Iaredo,
Glenn Dicterow and Dawn Upshaw. As an advo-
cate of new music, he has also collaborated with
some of the most renowned composers of our
time, including Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter,
John Corigliano,George Crumb and Lukas Foss.
His discography includes recordings on the
Titanic, Newport Classics, Phoenix, Owl, CMS
and Le Crepuscule du Disc labels.
Paul Polivnick, conductor
Renowned conductor Paul Polivnick has con-
ducted and recorded with symphony orchestras
around the world. In the United States he has
appeared with the Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra and the Utah, North Carolina and San
Diego Symphonies. Internationally he has
appeared with the Czechoslovakian State
Orchestra of Gottwaldov,the Brno
Philharmonic, the Korean Symphony Orchestra,
Orkester des OsterreichischenRundfunks, the
London Symphony Orchestra and the
Gulbenkian Orchestra. He has been Music
Director/Conductor of the Alabama Symphony
Orchestra, Associate Principal Conductor of the
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Associate
Conductor at the Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the Aspen
Festival Orchestra. In 1997 he was appointed
Music Director-OberlinOrchestras, at the
Oberlin Conservatoryof Music. He is also Music
Director of the New Hampshire Music Festival
and Principal Conductor of the Harmonia Nova
Orchestra of Vienna.
John Rojak, bass trombone
John Rojak joined the American Brass Quartet
in 1991, and has toured with them throughout
the United States and abroad. He is bass trom-
bonist with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the New
York Pops, the Little Orchestra Society, the
Stanford Symphony and Broadway's Les
Miserables. He has performed and recorded
extensively with the New York Philharmonic,
Orpheus, the New York Chamber Symphony,
and as solo trombone of Solisti New York. As
pan of Gunther Schuller's hand-picked orches-
tra, he was involved in the recording of Brahms'
First Symphony and Beethoven's FiJh for a col-
laborative CD to Mr. Schuller's book, "The
Compleat Conductor." He has performed with
numerous international ballet companies, such
as the Bolshoi, Kirov, and London Royal compa-
nies, and has played with the big bands of Me1
Lewis,Jerry Mulligan and Bob Mintzer. Active as
a soloist and clinician, Mr. Rojak was the first
bass trombonist to be Artist-in-Residence at
Quad City Arts in IllinoisAowa and has been fea-
tured at the International Trombone Association
festivals in Champaign-Urbana and in Boulder,
Colorado. He has given master classes and
recitals throughout the U.S., Japan and Mexico.
His New York concerto debut occurred in the
spring of 2000 with the New York Chamber
Symphony in Alice Tully Hall, performing Walter
Ross' "Trombone Concerto No. 2". His solo
recording, "The Romantic Bass Trombone" with
pianist Robert Koenig has been released on
MMC Records in the spring of 2001. Mr. Rojak is
on the faculties of Juilliard, Rutgers and the
Aspen Music Festival.
Stefan Sanders, bass trombone
Stefan Sanders has been Bass Trombonist with
the Buffalo Philharmonic since 1999. He has per-
formed with chamber and orchestral ensembles
throughout the world, including the New York
Philharmonic. He received his Bachelors of
Music Degree from The Juilliard School where
he was a student of Donald Harwood. He also
studied with Jeannie Little at the Interlochen
Arts Academy. As a soloist, Mr. Sanders gave the
world premiere of Eric Ewazen's Concertofor
Bass Trombone and Orchestra with Maestro
Jah-Jah Ling and The Juilliard Orchestra in Avery
Fisher Hall. Since then he has performed the
work twice at the U.S. Army Band's Eastern
Trombone Workshop. Mr. Sanders has also
given recitals and Master classes throughout the
United States and Japan.
David Taylor, bass trombone
David Taylor's musical career runs the gamut
of soloist, proponent of new music, jazz musi-
cian, orchestral musician, studio player and
chamber musician. He played with the American
Symphony Orchestra and appeared with the
New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez. He
has been a member of the Thad Jones-Me1Lewis
jazz band and recorded with Duke Ellington,
The Rolling Stones and Blood, Sweat and Tears.
He has appeared as soloist with the St. Luke's
Chamber Orchestra, the Chamber Music Society
of Lincoln Center, the Caramoor Festival
Orchestra, the New York Chamber Symphony,
the Basil Sinfonietta, the Adelaide Philharmonic
and the Group for Contemporary Music, among
others. He has commissioned dozens of works
for bass trombone by composers including Alan
Hovhaness, Charles Wuorinen and George Perle.
He has appeared and recorded chamber music
with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Wynton
Marsalis. In the world of popular artists, he has
appeared and recorded with Frank Sinatra,
Barbara Streisand, Miles Davis, QuincyJones and
Aretha Franklin. Mr. Taylor has won the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Most
Valuable Player Award for five consecutive years,
the most it could be awarded. He is a member
of the faculties of the Manhattan School of
Music, Mannes College and SUNY-Purchase.
Charles Vernon, bass trombone
Charles "Charlie" Vernon joined the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra in 1986 as bass trombonist,
coming from the Philadelphia Orchestra, where
he had served in that same position since 1981.
Prior to that he held identical posts with the
Baltimore Symphony and the San Francisco
Symphony.A clinician for the Selmer Instrument
Company and a frequent guest artist for the
International Trombone Association, Charlie has
made numerous appearances as a soloist
throughout the world. In April 1991,with the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direc-
tion of Daniel Barenboim, he gave the world
premiere of Ellen Taafe Zwilich's Concertofor
Bass Tmmbone. Currently a member of the fac-
ulties of DePaul, Northwestern and Roosevelt
Universities, he has also taught at Catholic
University, the Brevard Music Center, the
Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and
the Curtis Institute of Music.
International Sejong Soloists
The International Sejong Soloists have toured
extensively throughout the world, as a conduc-
tor-less string orchestra. Lauded by critics and
audiences, they have played their varied reper-
toire at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Alice
Tully Hall, the 9znd Street Y, the Kennedy
Center, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, and at the Ravinia
festival in Chicago, among other leading venues.
They are Ensemble-in-Residenceat the Aspen
Music Festival and have collaborated with such
world-renowned artists as Sarah Chang, Leon
Fleisher, Lynn Harell, Cho-Liang Lin, Gil Shaham,
and Benita Valente. Under the artistic direction
of Hyo Kang, one of the most acclaimed violin-
ists and teachers in the world, the ensemble is
sponsored in part by the Samsung Foundation
of Culture and represented by ICM Arista, LTD.
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
The famed Czech Philharmonic Chamber
Orchestra was founded in 1977 under the lead-
ership of its Artistic Director and Concertmaster
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Pavel Prantl and is comprised of principal and
core members of the Czech Philharmonic and
the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The
orchestra has toured throughout Europe, Asia
and North America. The orchestra has recorded
for numerous record labels and has won a covet-
ed Grand Prix du Disque.
Additional Credits
Concertinofor Bars Trombone and Trombone
Chorus, Balladefor Bass Trombone, Harp and String
Orchestra, and Capricciofor Bass Trombone and
Trombone Choir were recorded at the American
Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City, New
York. Produced and Engineered by Adam Abeshouse;
Edited by Adam Abeshouse and Sila. Brown.
Concertofor Bas Trombone and Orchestra and
Rhapsodyfor Bass Trombone a n d String Orchestra
were recorded at Studio 1, Czech Radio, Prague, Czech
Republic. Produced and Edited by Milan Slavicky
(Rhapsody) and Jiri Gemrot (Concerto)
Engineered by Jan Kotzmann
Notes by Eric Ewazen
O 2001 ALBANY RECORDS
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